Frankel filly Mori emulates mother Midday in style

Sir Michael Stoute: Mori victory gave him a fifth success in the Height of Fashion Stakes

Edward Whitaker

1 of
1

By Tom Collins
4:27PM, MAY 25 2017

Mori, a daughter of Frankel out of six-time Group 1-winning mare Midday, was always handily placed and strode clear to land the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes under Ryan Moore at Goodwood on just her third start.

Pushed clear with the front-running Coconut Creme coming into the straight under Moore, the well supported 15-8 favourite only needed to be ridden out under hands and heels to kick clear of the pacesetter by the intersection two furlongs out before scoring by a length and three-quarters.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has now won the race five times. His Elik, winner in 2013 also with Moore in the saddle, went on to finish third in the Ribblesdale, and they will hope Mori can follow up at the royal meeting.

It was the latest high-profile family success at the course. Mori's illustrious parents won five Goodwood Group 1s between them, with Frankel twice victorious in the Sussex Stakes and Midday winning the Nassau Stakes three times.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to winning owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "When Mori won at Ascot last time she was doing all of her best work in the last furlong and today it was pretty much the same. All being well she'll head to Ascot for the Ribblesdale and we'll take it from there.

"On that you'd be pretty confident about her getting a mile and a half. Ryan said she was improving. She was very green at Newbury, but the learning curve was up at Ascot and she's quite professional now, well balanced and relaxed."

The owner's other runner and fellow daughter of Frankel, Icespire was keen under Frankie Dettori throughout the race and failed to pick up down the straight – eventually finishing last of seven.

Paddy Power were suitably impressed by the regally bred Mori, making her a 10-1 chance (from 20) for the 1m4f fillies' Group 2 at Royal Ascot next month.